[Jeff Hinkle]

I’ve sometimes had Photoshop refuse to open a file simply because it didn’t like the file extension (.jpeg vs. .jpg, for example). Do your PNG files have odd file extensions? What happens if you change one to “.png”, will Photoshop recognize it then?

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

View>Show>Brush Preview ought to do it. Note you have to have a bristle-tip brush selected to be able to change the setting.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

If it were me, I’d shoot them in front of a properly lit green screen and key/composite in Photoshop. Give you much more control and not have to spend anything on a one-time-use backdrop.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

Talk to the printshop that will be printing your 8’x 8′ backdrop and follow their specifications. They’ll be able to tell you what your digital specs should be for their mechanical reproduction. Be sure to factor in any extra image edge for mounting.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

I was afraid of that. We don’t do nearly enough heavy lifting (most of our renders are short form, completed in just a few minutes) that they’d go for that just for the additional control. Here’s how the conversation would go:

“Got the After Effects network render to work.”
“Did it save time?”
“Yes. But it lacks control. There are other options that offer more.”
“Are they free?”
“No.”
“… And this way saved time, you say?”

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

Pillar-boxing was my first suggestion and was unceremoniously shot down. Also tried covering the edges with fake shadows and fake set elements to no avail, because it looked like we were “covering something up.” Well, yeah.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

I saw that once where a coworker solo’ed a layer that started outside the comp, then made it Shy. Couldn’t figure out why everything was invisible. Similar situation?

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

Select your Healing Brush tool.

In the Options Bar at the top of the screen, uncheck “Aligned.”

Now every time you click to start painting again, the brush will begin to sample from the original Alt-click point again.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

[Camryn Barker] “Because it has to do with the resolution does the image become smaller because that is the biggest size for that file without losing quality?”

Not exactly. Think of it this way: Imagine you have a grid that is 72 squares across by 72 squares down. And you cover each square with, say, a black piece of paper exactly the size of the square. When you’re done, you have a solid black square, 72×72. Now you have a second grid, 300 across by 300 down, with squares the same size as your 72×72 grid. If you move those same pieces of paper to the new grid, you still have a black square, exactly the same size, but a lot of empty space around it, and it now looks much smaller.

In general, moving 72ppi Web images into 300ppi print images is a bad idea, quality-wise, especially if it’s been compressed for fast Web delivery. If you’re working at print resolutions, get a better version of the logo from your client.

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.

[Jeff Hinkle]

Pixel dimensions and resolution are key factors, not inches. Inches are meaningless until you print. Drag a 5×7″ 72ppi image into a 5×7″ 300ppi document and that 5×7 image will suddenly be very small. What are the resolutions of your ad and logo?

—
It is easier to destroy than to create.
More fun, too.